Jeanette Makaroff, Artistic Director

	Jeanette Makaroff Photo by Geoffrey Cook

Jeanette operates the Makaroff School of Ballet, the oldest ballet school in the area. She was born in Appleton, Wisconsin to Nikolai and Juanita Makaroff, who founded the ballet school. Juanita Makaroff was the founder of the former Children's Ballet Theatre.

Jeanette's entire lifetime has been devoted to the fine art of ballet. She has over 47 years of experience in ballet, beginning with ballet lessons at an early age, including classes at Carnegie Hall. At the age of 13, Jeanette earned a scholarship from the renowned North Carolina School of the Arts, a conservatory boarding school, where she focused on a professional ballet career. This was a most unusual feat for such a young dancer. Jeanette also attended on full scholarship two Summer Intensive programs to the School of American Ballet in New York City.

After graduation, she toured professionally with the North Carolina Dance Theatre for four years prior to joining the Milwaukee Ballet where she attained the rank of Soloist. Valuing her talent as a professional dancer, instructor, and choreographer, the Milwaukee Ballet (under the direction of Mr. Basil Thompson) asked her to be their Ballet Mistress, training the company's own dancers.

Jeanette's reputation for excellence was well established in the national ballet community, when in 2000, she returned to Appleton to take over operations of the Makaroff School of Ballet.

The MYB board members all agree, “What sets Jeanette Makaroff apart is not only her vast professional performance experience, but also the fact that she was trained in a very formal system of ballet – the conservatory system – which is authentic classical ballet training. She is the only ballet teacher in this area with such an extensive background in ballet. Her passion is sharing her knowledge with her students. She is a compassionate master teacher, a true gift to our community. “

Jeanette's giftedness as a teacher is recognized by the Milwaukee Ballet, who asks her to return every summer to teach. Rolando Yanes, Director of the Milwaukee Ballet School had this to say about Jeanette, “I have known Jeanette for a long time. She is one of the most qualified teachers I have worked with. She has so much love, passion, and knowledge about this art form. You can see that in her commitment to all the dancers. Our school has performed her choreography for more than 13 years.”

A large number of her students have gone on to professional ballet careers, including: Ethan Stiefel, Principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, and New York City Ballet; Raven Wales, Milwaukee Ballet, Kara Wilkes, Milwaukee Ballet and North Carolina Dance Theatre; Ian Grosh, Milwaukee Ballet, and Suzanne Farrell and Friends Dance Company; Zack Hackstock, Washington Ballet; Jacqueline Moesicki, Milwaukee Ballet, Jessica Willems, Milwaukee Ballet; Justin Lutze, South Carolina Ballet; Joanna Michelic and Kyle Davis, North Carolina School of the Arts.